Dish-drying apparatus



ffm MM s. oLsoN DISH DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jue 21.- 192s June 24, 1930.

I dishes,

Patented june Z4, 193@ SAMUEL OLSON, OF CHICAGO, SMITH, ONE-FIFTH TOONE-FIFTH TO OWEN T. WEBER, ALL O ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TOWILLIAM E. PHILIP 'VAN HORNE, ONE-FIFTH TO RAYNOR F. STARR, Iiy CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, AND ONE-FIFTH TO SAMUEL OLSON 8a COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS vlDISH-ZDR'YING APPARATUSApplication led June 21,

The invention relates to apparatus for' drying dishes and other sucharticles.

The object of the inventionis to provide a drier ofthe type'that isadapted for association with a washer, which requires a minimum ofspace, is efficient in its opera-` In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a verticallongitudinal section of a drier embodying the invention, and a washerwith which the drier is adapted to be associated, a portion of thewasher being omitted. Fig; 2 is a vertical section taken' on line 2-2 ofFig. 1. Fig.'3 is a detail `of the presser member which -is adapted tohold the articles upon the conveyor belt. Fig. 4 is a detail vsection ofthe pivotal connection vbetween the delivery arm of one of 'the pipesfor delivering jets of air to the top surfacev of the and the airdelivery pipe,

The invention is exemplified in a drier for dishes which is adapted forassociation with a Washer W of the type whichcomprises a frame-work 9; awashing chamber 10; anendless conveyor belt 11 which is supported on the.frame-work and is -operable to convey the soiled dishes through thewashing chamber; a plurality of pipes 12 extending transversely acrossthe washing chamber and disposed below the conveyor belt and providedwith openings for delivering jets of water onto the dishes as they lpassthrough the chamber to clean them;

drain 13 which is supported by the frame-work, is disposed elow th'econveyor belt 11, and4 is adapted to receive the waste waterwhich issprayed against the dishes in transit through the washingy chamber, aswell understood inthe art.

The new and improved drier for .the dishes and other such articlescomprises standards 20, cross beams 21, .and longitudi- 1926. serial No.117,306.

nal beams 22,:all of which are rigidly sef cured together to form aframe-work for supporting lthe drying chamber, the drying apparatus, andan endless conveyor beit 23. The latter extends longitudinally acrossthe top of the drier frame-work, is adapted to carry and propel thedishes and articles through the drying chamber, and

comprises links 24 which are pivotally connected to cross rods 25 andare spaced relatively to each other by sleeves 26 so as to form spacestherebetween. The receiving -end of conveyor 23 is adapted to bepositioned adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor 11 of the washerto receive dishes and other articles from the washer after they havebeen washed. The receiving end'` j of the conveyor 23 is disposed at alower level than the discharge end of the washer conveyor so that thedishes discharged ,from the latter will fall by gravity onto conveyor23.4 A slideway 27 is disposed between the discharge end ofthe conveyor11 and the receiving end of conveyor 23 to facilitate the delivery ofthe dishes. This slideway may be supported from either the washer .ordrier frame-work in any suitable manner. Belt 23 is supportedat its endsby means .of drums 28 and 29. These drums are secured to shafts 30 and31 respectively which are rotatably ymounted in bearings formed in lugs-20a which are integrally formed with standards 20. The mechanism fordriving conveyorbelt 23 comprises an electricmot'or 32 which is mountedon a base 33 which extends between and isl secured to 4which extendstransversely across the framework and is journalled in suitable'bearings formed in a pair of lugs T201) which are A integrally formedwith standards20; a gear 42 which is'mounted on the other end of' '90 34by an endless belt 37 a pulshaft 41; and a gear 43 which meshes withgear 42 and is mounted on one end of shaft 30. l

. The drying chamber through which the dishes are propelled by conveyorbelt' 23 is formed by a sheet metal housing or enclosure which comprisesa .pair of side walls 44 and 45 which are secured to the sides of thefran1e-work and are provided at their top with portions 44a which extendoutwardly of the receiving end of the conveyor 23 and overthe dischargeend. of washer W; a top wall 46 which connects the side walls 44 and45and portions 44a; anda front and rear wall 47 and 48 which terminateat a suflivcient distance above belts 23 and 11 respectively to formopenings through which the dishes and. articles may pass.

l The apparatus for drying the dishes comprises a pair of air pipes 50and 51 which extendv transversely across the drying chamber and aredisposed normally adjacent the top surface of belts 11 and23-respectively. Each of these pipes is provided with a series of jetopenings 52 which extend downwardly toward the articles so` that thelatter'will be subjectedto jets of air under lpressure to disperse andabsorb the moisture ,thereon Pipe 50 is disposed adjacent the dischargeend of washer conveyor 11 and the air discharged therefrom is adapted todisperse the water remaining on the dishes after the latter have beensubjected to the jets of water frompipes 12. The ends of pipe areprovided with upwardly extend-v lng arms 53 and 54, the distal ends ofwhich are pivotally mounted so lthat pipe 50 may be swung upwardly bythe dishes, to permit the latter to pass thereunder. Pipe 50 normallyassumes a position which is in close proximity to the upper surface ofthe conveyor. The upper end -of arm 54 is connected by a screw-threadconnection 55 to a fitting 56 which extends laterally. and is 'pivotallyor rotatably mounted around the inner end of a branch -pipe 57. Thelat.- ter extends through an opening 58 in the 'front end of portion44et of side 44 and is connected to receive air under pressure from a suply pipe 59. This pipe extends longitu inally of and adjacent the outersurface of portion 44a and is connected by a I pipe 60 to a fitting 61..f The latter is connected by a pipe 62, a fitting 63, 'and a pipe 64 toa compressor 65 which'is mounted -on base 33 and is connected to bedriven 'by shaft 36. A valve 66 is connected to pipe 5S? to control theamount of air delivered to plpe 50. Branch pipe 57 is suitably supportedadjacent opening 58. Fitting 56 is inner end of pipe 57 wlth an annularintegral an'ge 56a which is adapted to abut against the inner end ofsaid plpe to limit the outward movement ofl the fitting. An annulargroove 56"- is' formed in the fitting outwardly of flange 56EL and inwhich are disposed a plurality of balls 56c which form asuitable'bearing for the fitting. A cylindrical opening 56d is formed inthe fitting and communicates with the groove to permit the balls 56c tobe inserted or removed therefrom. A plug 56" is connected by a screwthread connection 56f tothe fitting and is adapted to close openings56d. Arm 53 is solid and is `connected at its outer end by ascrew-thread connection 67 to a laterally extending fitting 68 which ispivotally mounted on p0rtion 44a of side 45 by a suitable ball bearing.

Pipe 5l for absorbing any moisture which may remain on the dishes,extends across the central portion of conveyor belt 23 and is providedat its ends with arms 70 and 71.

The distal ends of arms 70 andv 71 are pivotally connected to fittings72 and 73 respectively which are similar in construction to fittings 68and 56. Fitting 73 is rotatably mounted around the inner end of a pipe74 which extends through side wall 44 and is connected to fitting 61 toreceive air under pressure therefrom. Connecting rods 75 extend betweenthe fittings on the arms of the pipes 50 and 51 respectively to spacethem apart. Each rod is provided with a shaft 76 extending downwardlyand in the opposite direction to the pipe arms. A weight 77 is slidablymounted on each shaft 76 and acts as a counter-balance for the pipe.Each weight is provided with a thumb screw whereby it may be secured ina fixed position. A strip 79 extends longitudinally of each pipe 50 and51 and forms a surface against which the dishes will abut to swing thepipes into an elevated position. These strips are formed of resilientmaterial such as rubber and are secured to the arms of pipes 50 and 51respectively. A pipe 80 is disposed adjacent the under surface of theconveyor belt 23 adjacent pipe 5l and is provided with a plurality ofjet openings 80a which are inclined upwardly and are adapted to deliverjets of air through the spaces in the conveyor belt 'to the undersurfaces of the articles so as to labsorb the moisture thereon. Pipe 80is suitably supported and connected by a fitting 82 to supply pipe 64. 4

In practice, it hasbeen found that the force of the jets of airdischarged from pipe 80 is sufficient to raise the articles from theconveyor belt 23. To prevent this, pipe 51 is provided with ahorizontally extending flexible strip or member 87 which is4 disposed inthe path of the jets of air discharged from pipe 8O and is adapted topress. the dishes against the conveyor belt as they pass under pipe 51.This strip is provided with a plurality of slots which extend directlyin the path of the jetsof air dischar ed from pipe 8O so that the airmay pass uno structed strip or pipe 51 wh v to permit the articlescharge end and without imparting movement to the en no dishes arepassing thereunder.

The operation. of. the drier will be asfollows: After the dishes havebeen washed, they will be propelled by the conveyor belt of the washerinto Contact with pipe 50 of the drier which will subject the articlesto jets of vair under pressure'to disperse the water thereon. Uponreaching the end of belt 11 of the washer, the dishes will be dischargedonto slideway 27 from which they willbe received'by the receivin end of:the conveyor belt 23 of the drier. This conveyor will then propel thedishes and articles through the drying chamber where they will'ahum-against pipe 51 and cause the latter tfojbe swung upwardly asuiiicient distance to pass thereunder, during which movement theirtopsurfaces will be vsubjecte(V to 'jets of air under pressureA frompipe 51 and their lower surfaces will be subjected. to jets of air underpressure from pipe 80 These jets will absorb an moisture on the dishes,thereby completely drying them. The articles will then pass from thedrying Ichamber to the disof the conveyor which they-'may be deliveredable receiving member.

The invention exemplifies a dish drying apparatus-of new and improvedconstruction in which provision is made for suspending an air pipe overthe discharge end of a washer, whereby the dishes on the latter will besubjected to jets of air under presj vention is that sure to dispersethe moisture thereon, and in which provision is madek for pressing thedishes against the conveyo-r belt of the drier so that they will-not beraised therefrom or displaced when subjected to jets of air from forabsorbing the moisture Ion characteristic of the present inthe apparatusrequires only a minimum of space, due to the arrangement thereof. Theinvention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these ma be modified within the scope of the apendedclaims,` without departing from the them. A

spirit and scope of the invention.

' to extend i over pressure to described the invention, what Having thusLet- 1 claim as new and desire to secure by ters Patent, is: f

1".' In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, a dryingapparatus comprising a frame, a conveyor supporte by the frame andvadapted to receive the n dishes discharged from the washer-conveyor,

means supported by the frame 'and adapted the discharge end ot `the fordelivering air under washer-conveyor t l the dishes carried by saidwasherdisperse the water thereon, sai

conveyor to movably mounted andsliiftable means being belt 23 rom ontoany suitby the articles carried by the washer-conveyor, and meanssupported by the frame for drying the dishes carried by thedrierconveyor.

2. In combination With a dish washing apparatus embodying an endlessconveyor, an independent drier yunit adapted to be used in conjunctionwith the washer apparatus comprising a frame having a portion thereofadapted to overhang the discharge end of the washer conveyor, an endlessconveyor supported by the frame and adapted to receive the dishesdischarged from said-washer conveyor, means supported by the overhangingportion of the trame and adapted to eX- tend transversely across thedischarge end of the washer conveyor for delivering air under pressureto the dishes carried by said washer conveyor to disperse the waterthereon, and means supported by the frame tor delivering air underpressure to the dishes carried bythe drier conveyor to dry them.

3. In combination with a dish washing apparatus comprising anconjunction with said washer apparatus and comprising a trame, anendless conveyor supported by the frame and adapted toreceive the dishesdischargedv from the washer a pipe supported by the frame and adapted toextend transversely across to the discharge end of the washer conveyor,said pipe being provided witha series of openings for deliverwasherconveyor to disperse the water thereon, a pipe supported by the frameand provided with a series of openings Jfor delivering jets of air tothe dishes carried by the drier conveyor to dry them, and means Jfordelivering air under pressure to said pipes'.

4. In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, prising aframe, la conveyor supported by the frame and adapted to receive thedishes discharged from the Washer-conveyor, a pipe adapted to extendacross the discharge end of the washer-conveyor and provided withendless conveyor, an- 4 independent drier unit adapted to be used in adrying apparatus comopeningsV for delivering` jetso air to thev c dishescarried by said washer-conveyor to disperse the water'thereon, meansmounted on said frame for pivotally supporting the y pipe to permit thelatter tovbe swung upwardly by the articles carried by thewasherconveyor, means Jfor delivering air under pressure to the dishescarried by thedrier-` conveyor to dry them, and means for delivering airunder pressure to said pipe.

5, In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, a

frame, a conveyor adapted to receive the vdishes discharged from theWasher-conveyor,

drying chamber, a

an enclosure formin -a portion o said enclosure projecting outwardly ofthe"recei'v.ing. end osaid drier-coni drier comprising a.v

openings to the under side veyor and adapted to extend over thedischarge end of the washer-conveyor, means adapted to extend beneathsaid portion of the enclosure and across the discharge end ,of thewasher-conveyor for delivering air under pressure to the dishes carriedby said washer-conveyor to disperse the Water thereon, and means in saiddrying chamber for drying the dishes carried by the drierconveyor.

6. In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, a driercomprising a frame, a conveyor adapted to receive the dishes dischargedfrom the washer-conveyor, an enclosure forming a drying chamber, aportion of said enclosure projecting outvardly ot the receiving end ofsaid drierconveyor and over the discharge end of the washer-conveyor, apipe adapted to extend. across the discharge end ot' the washer-conveyorand provided with a series of openings for delivering` jets of air tothe dishes carried by said washer-conveyor to disperse the waterthereon, means secured to said portion of the enclosure for pivotallysupporting said pipe to permit the latter to be swung upwardly by thearticles on the washer-conveyor, a pipe in said chamber for deliveringair under pressure to the dishes carried by the diier-coiiveyor, andmeans for delivering air under pressure to said pipes.

dishes, having openings therein, means disposed beneath said conveyorfor delivering air under pressure through the openings to the under sideof the dishes carried by the conveyor, and a resilient strip disposedadjacent the means and operative to press the dishes against theconveyor to prevent them from being displaced by the air delivered fromsaid means.

8. In a drying apparatus of the character dcscribed,the combination of aframe, a conveyor for dishes mounted on the frame, said conveyor havingopenings therein, means disposed beneath the conveyor for delivering airunder pressure through the of the dishes carried by the conveyor, amember supy ported by the'franie and mounted to swing,

said member extending across and being positioned ladjacent said means,and a strip secured to and co-extensive with said member, said stripbeing adapted to hold the dishes against the conveyor to prevent themfrom being displaced by the air from said means.

9. In a drying apparatus of the character described, the combinationl ofa frame, a conveyor for the articles to be dried mounted on the frame,said `conveyor having openings therein, a pipe disposed beneath theconveyor and provided with a series of openings for delivering jets ofair under ,means for delivering n a drying apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination of a conveyor for pressure through theopenings in the conveyor to the under side of the articles, a membersupported by the frame and mounted to swing, said member' extendingVacross the conveyor and being disposed adjacent the pipe, and a stripconnected to the member and adapted to hold the articles against theconveyor to prevent them from being displaced by the jets of air, saidstrip aving a series of slots formed therein corresponding to the seriesof holes in the pipe and arranged in alignment therewith.

10. In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, anindependent drier unit adapted to be associated with the Washer andcomprising a frame, a pipe-element supported by the frame and adapty tobe positioned over and across the .d/charge end of the washer-conveyor,said pipeelement being provided with an opening for delivering a jet ofair to the dishes carried by said water thereon, means for movabl'ysupporting said pipe-element so that it will move when gaged by saiddishes to permit the latter to vpass thereunder, and air under pressureto the .pipefelement 11. In combination with a dish washer comprising anendless conveyor, an independent drier unit adapted to be associatedwith the washer and comprising a frame, said frame having an extensionfor overlapping the discharge end of the washerconveyor, a pipe-elementsupported by said extension and adapted to extend over and transverselyacross the washer-conveyor said pipe-element having an opening fordelivering a jet of air to disperse the lwater on the dishes carried bysaid washer-conveyor, a pivotal connection for supporting thepipe-element so that it may be swung upwardly when engaged by the dishesto permit the latter to pass thereunder, and means mounted onthe framefor delivering air under pressure to the pi pe-eleinent.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 8th day of February, 1926.

. SAMUEL OLSON.

